Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole combines all the flavors of the big meal in a simple, easy to make, never dried out dish. This is the best way to use up those leftovers!
Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole came about a couple of holidays ago when I was staring down a fridge full of plastic containers. Heating up leftovers separately in the microwave can take forever and frankly, I just didn’t have it in me. So I created this casserole and our leftovers have never been the same! This Thanksgiving Dinner Leftover recipe is so easy. It all cooks at the same time and can easily be modified according to how much of each leftover you have. If you have a ton of leftovers, you can double this recipe and cook it in a 9×13 pan. You can also adapt the ingredients you use in the casserole to fit your preferences, tastes, and what you have left over in the fridge from Thanksgiving Dinner.
Cost Saving Casserole
I like using my leftovers from Thanksgiving in a casserole because it will feed my family for another meal or two. Serve it with some leftover rolls and it is a hot meal with all of the wonderful tastes of Thanksgiving all over again. It is delicious and economical! I hate to see any of the dishes I make for Thanksgiving to go to waste. It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to put on a Thanksgiving dinner and throwing any of it out is not an option at my house!
Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwiches
If you still have leftovers after making this casserole, here’s another delicious idea for leftovers that my family loves. We call them Pilgrim Sandwiches or “Bobbies” because that is what they are called at Capriotti’s – one of our favorite sandwich shops. The ingredients are used straight from the fridge, so the sandwich is cold. If you prefer to heat the ingredients or broil the sandwich, that is good too. See the recipe here.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
This Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole and the Pilgrim Sandwiches are only as good as the ingredients that go into them. So try a few of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes and build your leftovers from them. You will never look at leftovers the same again!
- Cranberry Sausage Stuffing
- How to Cook a Turkey
- Mom’s Famous Turkey Gravy
- Best Dinner Rolls from Scratch
- Perfect Mashed Potatoes
- Best Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner
- Low Calorie Thanksgiving Dinner
How to Make Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups turkey shredded
- 3/4 cup cranberry sauce
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 cups corn
- 1 cups turkey gravy
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 cups stuffing
- chicken broth or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Combine turkey and cranberry sauce and spread evenly on the bottom of an 8x8 glass baking dish.
- Evenly press on leftover mashed potatoes and sprinkle corn over the top.
- Mix together milk and leftover gravy and spread evenly over potatoes and corn. Sprinkle on leftover stuffing and lightly drizzle chicken broth over the top (this will keep the stuffing from drying out).
- Cover with tin foil and bake at 400-degrees for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.
Trish b. says
Has anyone tried green bean casserole as your vegetable.
Melanie says
LOVE this recipe! Such a great idea! I also had leftover cranberries, and fried onions leftover from our green bean casserole, so I sprinkled some of those in a corner to try it out, and we loved it!
Irma Reyburn says
I’ve been wanting to make an
“Everything But the Kitchen Sink Thanksgiving Casserole” for years. I made this last night. It is quick and easy! Would of liked for it to hold up better when I served it. But that aside, why isn’t Thanksgiving dinner served like this!!! So happy I found your recipe. I’ve already added this to my TG recipes. 😊
Laurie Dotson says
This was a hit this year! 2020 was a letdown but this recipe made everyone happy! This was the first time, I didn’t make a big deal of Thanksgiving dinner. My adult son, who doesn’t eat leftovers, took leftovers home! Thank you!
Angelina says
This is a great recipe! It’s not only super delish, but also customizable. I like to make it with either green beans or mixed veggies, and I’ve also made it any old time of the year with chicken. We like whole berry cranberry sauce, so that’s what I use. I double the recipe, & bake it in a 13″ X 9″ Pyrex (we like the leftovers). Thanks ladies 🙂
Lauralee says
It is now a tradition to make at least 2 of these for Thanksgiving every year. It’s just my spouse and I, and we don’t like fussing with big fancy meals and all those dishes. We actually just make and eat this FOR Thanksgiving and throughout the whole weekend. We use turkey breast cooked right in the dish, add green beans in with the corn, and because we aren’t picky we use those packets of instant mashed potatoes, stovetop stuffing, and gravy in a jar. It’s super easy, quick, hardly messy, hassle-free, and DELICIOUS. It’s honestly great at any time of year. We also altered the recipe and sometimes use ham and spiced applesauce in place of the turkey and cranberry sauce. 10/10
Gina says
Best way to eat leftovers! Can’t wait for the day after Thanksgiving!
wilhelmina says
This is the perfect way to use holiday leftovers, it really is easy and delicious! We really enjoyed this casserole!
Bonnie Randol says
What can I use to replace the cranberry sauce?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I don’t know of a good substitute for cranberry sauce. You can omit it from the recipe if you prefer.
Lauralee says
The tartness of the cranberry sauce balances the entire dish, so you could use anything that would do the same. Try experimenting with different fruits (such as cherries or spiced pears), a thicker vinegar-based sauce, or even some sort of mustard.
Connie Breitwieser says
All I have is jellied cranberry sauce. I guess that wouldn’t work would it? This recipe sounds delicious.
Favorite Family Recipes says
I think that would work!!
Bonnie Randol says
I don’t like cranberry sauce. What can I use instead?
Favorite Family Recipes says
There isn’t really a substitute for the cranberry sauce. You can just omit it if you don’t like it. It shouldn’t affect the recipe.
Elaine Foley says
I used leftover spinach dip with water chestnuts in it. This gave the recipe a nice crunch. Part of my family do not like the sweet/salty taste. I put a divider made out of foil and bake both. Half had cranberry the other with spinach dip. This was a huge success… thank you
Lauralee says
The tartness of the cranberry sauce balances the entire dish, so you could use anything that would do the same. Try experimenting with different fruits (such as cherries or spiced pears), a thicker vinegar-based sauce, or even some sort of mustard.
Ryan says
I would think you could substitute a jam, jelly or preserve. You need something sweet to hit all the flavors.
Colleen says
Everyone loved this.
It was great and used up all the thanksgiving leftovers.🦃
Kimberly Bogdan says
This recipe saved the day when I had uneven quantities of leftovers for a “Thanksgiving Round II” gathering. The effort to rave reviews ratio earns it a spot in the “make it next year” recipe stack!
Jacey P says
Would chicken work with this? Inuave no turkey but have the rest!!..?
Favorite Family Recipes says
Yes, chicken would be delicious in this recipe!
Camille says
Trying this today! I used Mac & cheese instead of mashed taters!
MeowBoops says
I followed the largest measurements for most of the ingredients. I didn’t have corn so I used 1 can of unsalted french cut green beans (drained). I only used 1 1/2 cups of gravy. Baked it covered for 30 mins and removed foil to bake uncovered for another 30 mins. I had wetter stuffing so I wanted to dry it out a little since there were other liquids in this casserole to keep it moist. This is so good! I almost prefer this to the actual dinner where everything is eaten separately LOL! Thanks for sharing. A keeper for sure.
Favorite Family Recipes says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the 5-star rating!!
Blair says
Can you freeze this and if so when you’re ready to make it can you just pop it in the oven from the frozen state?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t tried it that way before, but I think it would work! Let us know if you try it!
Amy says
Just made this and it is absolutely delicious!! It has a sweet/salty quality to it that makes it crave—worthy! Sharing this recipe with my sister immediately!
Susan Neal says
LOVE this! Did it last year and doing it tomorrow! Happy Holidays!
Sara says
Im looking forward to making this but I don’t have any leftover mashed potatoes. Do you think I should make mashed potatoes with butter or just mash and spread some boiled potatoes since the other ingredients are so rich?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I never say no to butter! 🙂 I think mashing them as you normally would, with butter, gives them a better consistency.
Tori says
Hey there!
Just made your turkey leftovers casserole and put it in the freezer.
Looking forward to enjoying it in a month or so.
Thanks for the recipe!
Blessings,
Tori
Jessica Mock says
I made it last yr and the whole house has been asking for it!!! It’s very good and will become a leftover tradition, thank you for sharing!! ☺
Echo says
Thank you, Jessica! I’m so glad everyone liked it!
Laura says
Looks delicious!! Making it now
Jamie says
Yeah
Deb Blanton says
I’m making this day after thanksgiving. Looks delicious.
Patricia Barrett says
This sounds delicious, and I’m definitely going to try it.
Thanks.